Bobby-pin holder and opener



' June 14, 1955 N. REILLY 2,710,612

BOBBY-PIN HOLDER AND OPENER Filed 001:. 5. 1954 INVENTOR. N4 OM/ E's/L 1.

Arrommi 2,710,612 Patented June 14, 1955 tice This invention relates to devices for holding and opening articles such as bobby pins and the like.

As is well known, the prongs of bobby pins of commonly available types are held together by the springiness of the loop portion so firmly that the separation of such prongs, preparatory to use of the pin, is difficult par ticularly if the user attemps to pick up the pin and separate the prongs with one hand while the other hand is occupied in holding the hair. Consequently, in many cases, women use their front teeth in opening bobby pins. Investigations have shown that this practice often results in irreparably chipping the teeth in addition to promoting unsanitary conditions and the danger of introducing chemicals used for permanent waving to the mouth. And in case the fingernails are used for the purpose, in addition to being inconvenient, this practice is likely to cause chipping of thenails.

While a number of proposals have been made for providing holders for bobby pins of a nature such that they may also be used for separating the prongs of the pins at the time they are withdrawn from the holder for use, such proposals have been generally complicated, expensive, or inconvenient in use, or such that the bobby pins tend easily to be dropped therefrom or snap out of place or out of the fingers of the user.

The present invention provides a very simple device for this purpose which overcomes the above-noted difficulties and which is so relatively inexpensive that it may be economically sold in an assembled relationship as a holder containing numerous bobby pins, and discarded after the pins have been used therefrom. The devices are also so simple and inexpensive in construction and so easy to manipulate that they may be sold independently of the pins and the pins inserted by the user,whereby the assembly may be carried in a handbag and the devices discarded, if desired, after the pins are used therefrom,

the expense of replacing the device being inconsequential.

Other and more specific objects, features, and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description given below, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and illustrating by way of example the presently preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspetcive view of one of the devices constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention and showing one bobby-pin in place thereon, the intended locations of several other bobby-pins being indicated by dotted lines; I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the same device showing how the various portions of a bobby-pin are gripped and held in place by the various portions of the device;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4- is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 44 of Fig. l and showing the manner in which one of the bobby pins may be swung into a position for separating the prongs thereof prior to the removal of the pin from the device;

Fig. 5 is a view showing one of the clevices and the manner in which it may be supported from a belt worn by a user, such as for example a professional hairdresser;

Fig. 6 is a view showing how the device may be carried for use on a wrist band; and r Fig. 7 is a view showing an alternative form of the device designed particularly for holding a large number of bobby pins.

Referring to the drawings in further detail, as shown in I Fig. 1, the device in its preferred form may comprise a single unitary member 10 formed of sheet material, for

example relatively thin sheet metal or plastic material in sheet form which may be either extruded or comprise a compressed laminated plastic material. The member or element 10 preferably includes a unitary fiat body portion 11 against which the conventional flat or straight bobby-pin prong portions, as at 12, are adapted to restwith the lower ends or tips, as at 13, of such prongs bearing against an outturned flange or lip portion 14 extending along the bottom edge of the device.

As further shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the device hasa portion 15 preferably extending along parallel to the upper edge of portion 11 and spaced therefrom by a gap 16.

be noted that the left-hand ends of the portions 15 and 1-7,

as shown in Fig. 1, are free and unsupported whereas the right-hand ends of these portions aresupported and conbody portion 11' by an integral: side f nected to the main portion at 20.

The portion 15, at'21 where it adjoins the portion is preferably bent upwardly (toward the viewer of Fig. l) and then continues on to its free end parallel to the main body portion 11. Similarly the part of portion 17 portion 15. For example, for the conventional types of bobby-pins, the portion 15 may extend along a plane'f about inch above the plane of the main body portain 11 while the portion 17 extends along a plane, for' example /s inch or less above the plane of portion 11, as

edge of portion 11, whereas the is preferably slightly shorter. As more clearly apparent cross-section so that the surface thereof facing the viewer of Fig. 1 bulges upwardly" sufiiciently so as to conform with the inner surface of the upper bump" as at '23 formed on the usual bobby-pin.

2), will engage the inner of the bobby-pins.

The upper portion 17 of the device, also is prefer} ably formed-with a cross-section which is somewhat arcuate but curved in the direction opposite to the curvature of the cross'-section of portion 15. Thus, as

will be apparent from Fig. 2, the upper edge areas of portion 17 will be in a position to accommodate the; upper bulging or looped portions as of 26 of the bobbypins, whereas lower down on portion 17 its under surface is of a shape to smoothly engage and apply some pressure as at 27 to the bobby-pins.

A further portion 17, preferably somewhat wider than the portion 16, extends along the top of the device' and is separated from the portion 15 by gap 18. It will fromFi'gs; 2 and 4; the: portion 15 is preferably formed with a slightlyarcuate' On the other hand, the back surface of the portion 15 is somewhatconvex so that its upper and lower edges, as at 24-25 (Fig.' surface of the straight prongs For the holding of the most pommoply available conventional form of bobby-pins, it has been found that the height of the lowermost body portion of the device is preferably made about inch. The slots or gaps 16 and 18 may each be about of an inch wide, the upper gap 13 possibly beingsomewhat less. The portion 15 is preferably about 7 of an inch wide, and the width of the portion 17 about of an inch. The device, as shown in Fig. 1, if made with an overall width of 1 /2 inches or more, is adapted to conveniently hold, for example, eighteen bobby-pins, but of course by making the device wider a larger number may be held or, if desired, the form shown in Fig. 7 may housed in which two of each of the portions such as 15, 17 may be provided oppositely directed, as shown at 15a, 15b, and 17a, 17b. These portions are supported by a single central portion as at upstanding from the main body portion 31. Furthermore, this form of the device is well adapted to be supported in an upright position'as by mounting same on a weighted base 33, adaptedto rest upon a dressing table for example.

In order to place the bobby-pins in the device shown in Fig. 1, they may be thrust vertically downwardly in back of portion 17 and in a position so that the prongs engage and straddle the portion 15 and with-the straight prong side in a position to rest against the fiat main body plate portion 11. When the lower ends of the prongs engage the flange 14, the upper or looped ends of the bobby-pins will extend above the portion 17 at a convenient distance to be readily grasped for removal. When the pins are in place, as shown in Fig. 2, they will be fairlyfirmly held by friction and by reason of their inherent springiness against any-danger of unintended displacement eitherupwardly or sideways. Since the portions 15 and 17 are of somewhat arcuate crosssection, even though made of sheet material which would normally be resilient, they will be held against displacement and against release of pressure against the bobby-pins by reason of their semi-rigid character which results from their arcuate cross-section. The lower flange 14 lends adequaterigidity to the lower part of portion 11- against its being deflected out of place even by pressure of a large number of bobby-pins. If desired, the upper edge, as at 34, of the portion 11 may be deflected slightly rearwardly which will also lend rigidity to that edge and at the same time allow the ends of the prongs of each bobby-pin to more readily slip down past this edge into place.

In order to remove a bobby-pin from the device, the upper or loop end thereofyas at 26, is first swung rearwardly and downwardly, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4. This -will cause the middle portions of the two prongs of .the pin to be forced apart by the action of the portion 15. That is, the upper edge 24 of portion IS-willengage, for example, ;a bump of one pin prong and-the straight prong of thepin will ,engage the lower edge 25 of the portion 15. 1f the pin is swung rearwardly and downwardly further, the straight prong may also come into engagement with the upper edge 34 of the portion 11. When a pin is swung to the position shown in Fig. 4, it will be held in that position without danger of any easy dislodgment, or if desired the device may then be placed on a table and when the user gets ready to use the displaced bobby-pin it may be grasped and removed by the fingers of one hand, with the fingers so positioned-,asto retain the prongs in the necessary separated relation for ready use.

.Normally it will be noted that the portions 11, 15 and 17 provide three areas of contact for holding each bobby-pinfrictionally in place, the upper portion 17 further'serving-to cover a-suitable part of the upper portion of the pins preventing them from being knocked sideways ,or bent rearwardly out of place. The portion 17 further by reason of the position of its lower edge forms a stop means for engaging a prong of the bobby- (iii pin as it is swung to the position shown in Fig. 4. Thus, each pin, it will be noted, as swung to that position will be retained against unintended dislodgment by at least three edges, viz., the upper and lower edges of portion 15 and the lower edge of portion 17, the latter edge engaging one of the bumps as does the upper edge of portion 15, thereby preventing the pin from sliding down and out until the user is ready to withdraw it.

When the devices are used by professional hairdressers, they may be mounted in various ways for convenience. For example as shown in Fig. 5 the device may be mounted on the end of a thin flexible steel strip as of 36 which is secured at its other end in any suitable way to the belt 37 of the user. The type of device shown in Fig. 7 may also be similarly supported. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 6, the device may be secured in any suitable way to a wrist-band 38 in the position shown for wearing on the left hand wrist of the user (assuming that the user is right-handed). In the position shown, the pins may be swung rearwardly and removed generally as indicated in Fig. 4.

Although certain particular embodiments of the invention are herein disclosed for purposes of explanation, various further modifications of the details thereof, after study of this specification, will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. Reference should accordingly be had to the appended claims in determining the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for holding and separating the prongs of bobby pins and the like which comprises: a member of sheet material having a main generally flat body area, a first narrow portion extending along in generally parallel spaced relation to the top edge of said body area, and a second and somewhat wider portion extending along in generally parallel spaced relation above said first portion, the sheet material of said body area having an integral upward extension, which extension is integrally formed with said two portions as a support therefor, said first portion being somewhat displaced from the plane of said body area whereby the bobby pins may be placed astride same in frictional gripping relation thereto while the prong portions extend down over said body area with one prong of each pin in contact with such area, and said second portion being further displaced from the plane of the body area frictionally to engage the other prong of each pin near the loop portion thereof, the construction permitting the loop portion of each pin to be swung rearwardly from said second portion, said first portion then acting to spread the prongs and frictionally hold the pin in rearwardly releasable position.

2. A holder for bobby pins and the like comprising a generally fiat integral sheet metal member formed with two generally parallel slots which are open at one end and closed at their other ends and which divide the member into three portions including first, an area over 1hich the prong portions of the pins are adapted to be positioned, secondly an intermediate strip adapted to be frictionally gripped between the mid-portions of the prongs of each pin when the pins are applied thereto transversely of said slots, said intermediate strip being of a width sufficient so that when a pin is swung thereabout its prongs will be separated and releasably retained, and third, at strip under which the upper portions of the pins are adapted to be positioned, said intermediate strip being in a plane displaced somewhat above said first area, and said third strip being in a plane somewhat further displaced above said area.

3. A holder for bobby pins and the like comprising a generally flat integral sheet metal member formed with two generally parallel slots which are open at one end and closed at their other ends and which divide tre member into three portions including first, an area over which the prong portions of the pins are adapted to be positioned, secondly an intermediate strip adapted to be frictionally gripped between the mid-portions of the prongs of each pin when the pins are applied thereto transversely of said slots, said intermediate strip being 5 of a width sufiicient So that when a pin is swung thereabout its prongs will be separated and releasably retained, and third, a strip under which the upper portions of the pins are adapted to be positioned, said intermediate strip being formed with a somewhat arcuate cross-section to 10 fit arcuate bumps on the pin prongs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 486,664 Davidson Nov. 22, 1892 15 6 Schmitz Dec. 15, 1903 Albright Mar. 21, 1939 Josephs Dec. 22, 1942 Brothers Dec. 26, 1944 Hall Nov. 22, 1949 Williams et a1 May 30, 1950 Bartsch Nov. 27, 1951 Lynskey Apr. 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Apr. 1, 1940 

